Clinical

The film begins with Dr. Jane Mathis (Vanessa Shaw), a trauma psychiatrist, working late on a chilly evening, accompanied by holiday tunes in the background. As she prepares to brew a pot of coffee just before midnight, a loud crashing noise disrupts her solitude. Rushing into the waiting room, she finds her patient Nora (India Eisley), distressingly injuring herself with a shard of glass. Nora chillingly states, “I did what she told me to do…” before launching an attack on Mathis and tragically slitting her own throat.

Fast-forward two years: the graceful yet haunted Mathis now finds herself outside her therapist’s office, grappling with the residual trauma from the horrendous incident. Sitting in her car, she takes a prescription pill with a lukewarm cup of coffee. In her therapy sessions with Terry (William Atherton), a fellow therapist and friend, her guardedness is evident, revealing her struggle to connect emotionally. Although she yearns to help others overcome trauma, she hesitantly admits that she is not prepared to see Nora again—hinting that Nora is still alive. Moreover, she mentions a new relationship to Terry, a sign of her recovery.

Mathis conducts therapy sessions in her home but deliberately avoids working with trauma patients. As depicted in a montage, she appears bored and detached, often doodling on her notepad instead of engaging meaningfully with her patients. One patient, eager for anxiety medication, receives a firm response from Mathis, who now promotes healthy dialogue over prescriptions. A phone call from a prospective new patient, an elusive individual named Alex, convinces her to once again step back into the world of trauma therapy.

That evening, Mathis engages in self-medication, neglecting her usual routine. She is jolted awake later that night by a crashing sound outside her home. Investigating, she finds her trash can overturned and notices rustling in the bushes. As she approaches, a shadowy figure darts away, leaving her intrigued yet unsettled. Unbeknownst to her, Nora is lurking nearby, vanishing the moment Mathis turns to re-enter her house.

During Alex’s initial session, he comments on Mathis’s unadorned holiday decor, revealing his disfigurement and frustrations regarding previous therapists. Much to his dismay, Mathis declines to provide medication, emphasizing her commitment to truly understanding her patients and addressing their core issues. The next day, while jogging with her friend Clara (Sydney Tamiia Poitier), she catches a glimpse of Nora deep in the woods, sending shivers down her spine. Clara praises Jane for her progress, but a feeling of being watched looms overhead.

Later that evening, Jane dines with her boyfriend Miles (Aaron Stanford), who observes her lack of appetite. As they engage in light-hearted banter about therapy, Jane’s thoughts drift back to her haunting encounter with Nora. Alex returns for another session, revealing his deep-seated hurt over his appearance and the stigma he feels from society. Dr. Mathis insists on employing exposure therapy, guiding him to confront his anxieties. Alex struggles to recount the traumatic accident that altered his life and the lives of others.

During her therapy session with Terry, Mathis discloses a bizarre dream involving Nora, where she wakes feeling “heavy.” Terry, concerned about her well-being, suggests she confide more of her feelings and keep close tabs on her mental health. Despite his warning, Mathis insists on helping Alex, claiming her expertise lies in such cases.

As Christmas approaches, Jane is visited by visions from her past. One fateful night, after hearing unsettling noises, she finds Alex sleepwalking in her home. Refusing to accept him as a patient, she seeks comfort in Miles, further complicating her emotional landscape. When Alex later resorts to a pill overdose, Mathis rushes to his side, finding him in a disoriented state.

Their relationship grows, with Mathis revealing her fears and regrets while affirming her commitment to help him recover. During a session, Alex admits to the serious nature of his recent actions, but tensions arise when Mathis nearly divulges the truth about Nora’s torment. Their dynamic intensifies as Mathis learns that Nora has been released from the mental institution where she was held.

Fueled by dread, Jane uncovers the truth about the night of the attack and the tangled web of betrayal that follows. The realization that Alex is both Nora’s abuser and father strikes her like lightning. In a fevered haze of desperation, she paints a vivid picture of her deepest fears coming to life, culminating in a harrowing confrontation with Alex.

In the climactic crescendo, Mathis fights for her life against Alex, revealing the harrowing truths they both have been suppressing. In a tumultuous struggle, she emerges victorious but not without costs—a dark conclusion awaits her as she deals with the shocking repercussions of her actions, ultimately leading to her incarceration within the very institution that held Nora.

As Jane grapples with her mind and reality unraveling, she faces terrifying visions of both Nora and Miles, compelling her to confront unresolved grief and guilt. The unexpected twists and turns culminate in a chilling final showdown, tying together the threads of trauma, survival, and the quest for redemption in the unnerving landscape of the human psyche.

Last Updated: October 27, 2024 at 21:37